When we think of sustainability, or “going green,” most immediately think of the environment/nature/wildlife conservation or recycling. But in the industry and in practice, sustainability actually entails THREE important pillars. Life hangs in the balance of all three. When just one of the E’s is off, then that’s when sustainability is in jeopardy and life on the planet is therefore in jeopardy.
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When we think about going green we think about what we do at home– for example: grow our own produce to save money, turn out the lights, recycle But on a campus like URI, a going green involves educating and creating healthy learning environments Why should institutions care about this definition?
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Aside from just doing the right thing, a green campus has become a desired trait among college‐bound students. Students today are LOOKING for an institution that is aware of sustainability issues and has programs in place. A Princeton Review survey found that out of 10,300 college applicants, 68 percent said that a college’s commitment to the environment could affect their decision to go there. With campuses serving as living laboratories for research and implementation, colleges and universities stand in a unique position to stay on the cutting edge of sustainable living practices and environmental thought leadership.
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URI has had the honor of being included in the Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges for the past 4 years. In 2013, URI received the highest score of all the schools in Rhode Island that applied for inclusion in the Review, rating URI’s sustainability initiatives top in the state
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So what makes URI green? We have established programs that have earned the University the reputation as a institute that has a lot to offer. • The College of the Environment and Life Sciences (CELS) houses many environmental science and economics academic programs. • URI offers undergraduates a minor in Sustainability URI offers undergraduates a minor in Sustainability • The University is a Sea, Land, and Urban Grant institution meaning, basically, that URI receives funding from the government to engage in research of the sea, the land, and the urban environment. Studying and caring for the planet is one of URI’s core values. • The Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO) is a nationally renown program, preparing students for careers and research related to ocean science and research. GSO was recently students for careers and research related to ocean science and research. GSO was recently awarded a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation to serve as the national hub for the Climate Change Education Partnership Alliance. • The Mallon Outreach Center houses URI’s community outreach programs, teaching members of the local community anything from proper gardening technique to providing training for residents, businesses, municipalities and any interested individuals with practical information on how to save money, protect the environment and support RI's green economy with energy efficiency, conservation, renewable energy and alternative fuels.
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When URI’s research ship Endeavor topped off its 53,000 gallon fuel tanks in December 2011, it filled up with refined biodiesel, making it the first ship in the US research fleet to use the alternative fuel
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At URI we have top notch programs for our students, including the Energy Fellows program, the Coastal Fellows program, and student groups like SAS, Slow Food URI, and the URI Wildlife Society
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We have 6 LEED certified buildings on campus
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And 4 more on the way • COP opened in September 2012, and we are currently waiting for confirmation of its LEED status. We are hoping for GOLD •Hillside opened in October 2012, and we are hoping for GOLD as well •Chemistry is in design phase •Wellness and Fitness is a major renovation of the old Roger Williams dining hall, and will open in October
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Aside from being a well‐built and well‐designed building, Hope Dining Commons features “green” operating practices that helped increase its LEED rating
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URI was the first institution in RI to sign ACUPCC and create a CAP, blazing a trail for other colleges and universities in this state NE Tech and Roger Williams (2009) would join next, signing a year later
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Signing onto the ACUPCC, a committee needed to be created to oversee sustainability initiatives and ensure that we followed through with our commitment to move toward being a carbon‐neutral campus. The President’s Council on Sustainability includes staff, faculty, as well as student representation. Members are appointed by President Dooley
The Council on Sustainability drafted URI’s first Strategic Plan for Campus Sustainability. It can be found online at www.uri.edu/sustainability/strategicplan
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The Strategic Plan focuses on 5 areas of concern for campus sustainability, and a subcommittee is assigned to each one. Each subcommittee is led by a member of the Council and includes additional members of the campus community. Together, they drafted the goals and strategies contained in the Strategic Plan and oversee implementation of action items.
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Just prior to the development of the Strategic Plan, a Climate Action Plan was written for the Council with the help of the URI Energy Fellows. This is a plan that focuses specifically on greenhouse gasses emitted that this campus is responsible for
In order to draft a Climate Action Plan to reduce our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the Energy Fellows performed an inventory of just how much URI was already emitting. Commuting was a surprise Emissions from commuting to and from campus accounts for about 1/3 of URI’s overall greenhouse gas emissions.
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After a quick look at number of commuters on campus, it became clear that emissions are high in this category at URI because of Single‐Occupancy Vehicles (SOVs). The majority of staff, faculty, and students drive to campus alone.
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If we took all of the cars that commute on and off campus, and lined them end‐to‐end, we could reach Providence! We could cut our emissions in half if each of us carpooled with just one other campus member.
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There are alternatives to driving your car to campus. The bus can take you just about anywhere you want to go: the Amtrak train station, Providence (including the Providence Place Mall and the URI Providence campus), the GSO at the Narragansett Bay campus, the grocery store, the beach, Newport….. The $30/month unlimited ride pass is much more cost effective than $30/week in gas paid by a commuter from Providence by a commuter from Providence.
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You DO NOT NEED YOUR CAR at URI. Help us achieve our GHG reduction goals by leaving yours at home The fear that many have of being stranded on campus when a bus is taken was addressed a few years ago when URI partnered with Hertz to provide a car sharing program. Cars are rented by the hour, booked online, and have a dedicated parking space. The hourly rate includes driver’s insurance and gas. There is a gas card in the glove compartment that drivers use so gas is not paid out‐of‐pocket drivers use so gas is not paid out of pocket. Your free membership card is swiped Your free membership card is swiped at the at the car’s windshield to unlock the vehicle and the keys will be found inside
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Aside from commuting, we do have issues of energy inefficiency that we hope to resolve with the help of staff and faculty.
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URI follows the state’s recycling and waste minimization policies. Just like at home (assuming you live in Rhode Island), campus has a single‐stream recycling program. This means that your plastic containers, paper, glass bottles, and aluminum cans can all be placed in one recycling bin. No need to separate into green bin/blue bin. Call Mary Brennan, the URI recycling coordinator, if you do not have the proper bin or trash receptacle. Her staff also is responsible for e‐waste and large quantities of cardboard (like boxes). boxes) Call 4‐2840 or Email: recycle@etal.uri.edu
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In 2013, the Office of Sustainability started a Green Office program. This program provides resources for offices across campus to maintain their own green program. It’s completely voluntary. If you would like to be the Green Ambassador for your office, contact Marsha Garcia at 4‐4358 or sustainability@etal.uri.edu. You can also register your Green Team online
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Once you have a Green Team in place at your office, you can apply for office Green Office certification. There is a rating system in place and if your office’s Green Team achieves a certain number of points, your office can be rated anywhere from 1 to 4 stars
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Certified Green Offices receive recognition in the staff/faculty internal newsletter, URInformed
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The most important reason that we have sustainability initiatives in place on campus is to serve as role models for the students as well as the wider community. Help us keep our message of going green consistent by practicing what we preach!
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Contact the Office of Sustainability with any questions, concerns, or suggestions!
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